Change speed gear



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July 3o, 1935. A, C, CLAYTON 009,47?

CHANGE.' SPEED GEAR Filed Jan. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 30, 1935. A, Q CLAYTON 2,oo9477 CHANQE SPEED GEAR Filed Jan. 23, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 30,-1935.

Filed Jan. 23, 1955 A. C. CLAYTON CHANGE SPEED GEAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 30 1935 A. c. CLAYTON 2,009,477

CHANGE SPEED GEAR I Filed Jan'. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I v y l.

I I L I I I I .AIIF

Patented July 30, 1935y l CHANGE SPEED GEAR Alec Charles Clayton, London, England Application January 2 3,1935, serial Nb. 3,134

In Great Britain December 6, 1933 6 Claims.

This invention relates to epicyclicchange speed gears for motor driven vehicles and other purposes and particularly to those which include annular reaction wheels or other rotary reaction members, for instance, a rotary layshaft carrier, which have to be arrested and freed to eiiect gear changes.

In a gear according to the invention, the annular reaction wheels and rotary layshaft carlO rier, when employed, are adapted to be arrested and freed to eiect gear changes by means of ball or roller clutches which comprise stationary ramp members and cages for the rollers which are adapted to beoscillated to move the balls or rollers into and out of operative positions.

The roller cages are preferably partially rotated against the action of springs by mechanism which is connectedto the engine clutch or other main driving clutch operating gear, so that when the clutch is disengaged, the roller cages are set in an extremeposition with the springs tensioned ready for selective return under the action of their springs, as determined by selecting mechanism, when the driving clutch is re-engaged, the connection of the cages to theclutch operating gear being such as to permit of the cages being controlled by the selecting mechanism during the re-engagement or" the clutch.

The selecting mechanism is preferably of such a nature as hereinafter described as to permit of pre-selection. For example, it may include stepped ratchets andpawls, the ratchets moving with the cages so that their return from the set position is controlled or determined by the pawls which are'set in the required positions by the selecting mechanism, the pawls having resilient members engaging with setting or selecting cams so that the cams may be pre-set.

The accompanying drawings illustrate forms of epicyclic gear constructed and adapted to operate according to the invention, v

Figure l is a front sectional elevation of a gear box according to the invention, the section being taken on the line I-I of Figure 2, which is a sectional plan on the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are end elevations ofthe two annular wheels with theirV roller clutches, and a sliding clutch collar and fork, respectively.

Figures 6, 'l and 8 are views of separate details of the mechanism. p

Figure 9 is an end elevation of part of an annular wheel showing a modied mechanism for moving the roller clutches to operative or inoperative positions.

(Cl. *Z4-262) Figures l2 toV` 14' are views showing the rela-V tive positions of partsof the mechanism of Figure'lO. Y

Figure l5 is a diagrammatic view showing the connections between amain driving clutch and the gear boX.

The gear box illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 is designed to give four forward' speeds (including a direct drive) and. one-speed in reverse.

The actual box or housing is designated by the reference numeral :I i

As described in'thebefore-mentioned patent specification, an inputA shaft 2 is provided with an input sunwheel 3, which is in mesh with three planet pinions 4, each of which is mounted or formed integrally with a, layshaft 5.journalled in a rotarycarrier. An output shaft 'I is provided with an output sunwheel 8 in mesh with three other pinions 9, each of which is carried by a layshaft 5. rIhe planet pinions 4 mesh directly with one annular reaction wheel I0, while those 9 are in geared connection with Va second annular reaction wheel II through intermediate pinions I2, each of which is freely mounted on a pin I3 in the carrier 6.

A sleeve I4y is keyed to the output shaft 'I and is provided with clutch teeth I5, and the carrier 5 has an extension sleeve I 6 provided Awith similar clutch teeth I'I. A sliding clutch member or collar I8 having a set of long internal Vclutch teeth I9 is splined to an output member 28, which is connected to the propeller shaft of a motor propelled vehicle. f 'f To eiect changes of speed, the clutch teeth I9 are moved into engagement with teeth I5 or with teeth I'I singly or with both sets of teeth I5 and I simultaneously, the gear illustrated being capable of givingV four forward speeds (including a direct drive) and' one reverse speed.

By clutching together the teeth I5 and yI9the second and third speeds are obtainedb'y'arresting the annular wheels II and IIJ, respectively, the drive being transmitted through the output sunwheel 8.

By clutching together the teeth I6 and I9, the rst forward speed and the reverse drive are obtained by arrestingthe annular wheels ID and II, respectively. In this condition, the carrier 6 rotates bodily'and transmits the drive.

By clutching together the teeth |5, and i9, the output sunwheel 8 and the layshaft carrier 6 are locked together and the whole gear rotates en bloc to give a direct drive. stood that during direct driving, both reaction wheels are free to rotate idly.

The movement of the collar I8 to any desired position is effected bythe driver operating the main driving clutch, e. g., an engine clutch iZi, after the position has been pre-selected.

The operating mechanism of the usual engine clutch is connected to a shaft 2| in the gear box, so that the shaft is rocked upon operation of the clutch. The engine clutch |25, which is of any conventional type (Figure l5), is released by depression of a, pedal |2| mounted on a shaft |22 and having a'fork |23 engaging with a collar 24 on the movable part of the clutch.

The shaft 2| has a lever |25 secured to it, which is connected by a link |26 to a lever |27 movable with the clutch fork |23. Depression of the pedal to disengage the engine clutch causes the shaft 2| to rock in an anticlockwise direction. Y

A fork 22 (Figure 4) which embraces the collar I8 is loosely mounted on the shaft 2| and has a lug withY three teeth 23, 24 and 25. The fork also has an extension 26 to which a spring 21 isconnected to urge the fork to move in a clockwise direction (Figure 1). A boss 2,3 secured to the shaft has a dog 29 and a, cam 33.

The driver can Vease or slightly release the engine clutch without moving the fork 22, but the continued clutch release movement rocks the shaft 2| sufficiently for the dog 25 to engage with'the fork and thereby to move the collar to its extreme right hand position (Figure l), in which the teeth |9 engage only with those I1.

Upon re-engagement of the engine clutch, the shaft; 2| and dog 29 `are rocked back again to free the fork which is urged back by its spring 2l. The return of the fork, however, is controlled by a springintercepting pawl 3| which hasbeen set to engage with either of the teeth 23, 24 or 25 on the fork according to whether the clutch teeth I9 on the collar |8 are to engage with the teeth |'l alone, the teeth |5 and together, or the teeth VI5 alone.

The position of the spring pawl 3| to engage with either of the ,teeth 23, 24 or 25 of the fork is determined by the pre-selecting operation.

Pre-selection is effected by the driver in any usual manner, for example, by moving a short lever over a dial or scale graduated to indicate speed changes. Such devices are well known and so have not been illustrated. The movement of the pre-selecting lever causes lthe partial rotation of a shaft 32,'(Figure 2), to which is secured a spiral gear segment 33 which meshes with a spiral pinion 34 secured to a selecting shaft 35. K

rfhe spring pawl 3| (Figure 4) is freely mounted on a rock shaft 36, and has two arms 3?, 38 pivoted to it. The tongues are drawn towards one another by springs 39 and embrace a, cam 40 secured to theselecting shaft 35.

Movement of the pre-selecting handle rotates the camfl, so that one or other of the arms 3?, 38 is raised by a rise on the cam to tension the springsr and so energize the pawl. For example, ii the spring arm 3 1 is raised, the pawl will be urged to move clockwise, while if the other arm 3B israised, the tension of the springs 39 will urge the pawl in the opposite direction.

It will be under- -lecting shaft 35.

When the fork 22 is moved as hereinbefore described, the spring pawl is free to move, in accorda-nce with the pre-setting of the cam 4G, into the path o one or other of the teeth 23, 24, 25 on the fork, in order to engage with that tooth during the return of the fork and so correctly position the clutch teeth it of the collar i8.

Referring to Figures l and 3, the annular reaction wheel !0 is partially supported on ball bearings 4| on the carrier G and has its rim widened to form a flange 52, which overhangs a ramp member in the form of a ring 43 rigidly secured to the box i. The inner face o the flange and the periphery of the ramp ring constitute races between which clutching or arresting elements in the form of rollers il@ are situated.

As is seen more clearly in Figure 3, the periphery of the ramp ring is provided with ramps in the form of flats or cam surfaces 45, one for each roller 44. i

Each roller is situated in a slot in an annular cage 46 and is urged inte contact with one end wall of its slot and with its col-operating camsurface by means of a pair oi blade springs lil'.

Partial rotation or" the cage in an anti-clockwise direction (Figure 3) will cause e-ach roller "i4 to bind between its co-operating cam surface i5 and the iiange 42. This arrangement constitutes a one way clutch or brake by which the annular wheel i5 may be arrested against rotation in an anti-clockwise direction (Figure 3), and any tendency of the wheel te turn in this direction has the effect of increasing the binding pressure on the rollers 43. It will be understood that the normal position of the cage such that the rollers are in the neutral position as shown in Figure 3, in which they are out of binding contact with the ilange 42.

The rock shaft hereinbeiore mentioned has a lever i8 secured to it, which lever carries a roller i9 at its end. Upon disengagement of the engine clutch and the consequential rocking of the shaft 2|, the cam engages with the roller 4Q and thereby rocks the shaft 3E.

A iinger 53 is secured to one end of the shaft 36 and meshes with a recess in a ratchet 5i secured to the side of the cage t6. Upon rocking of the shaft 3", by the disengagement of the engine clutch, the iinger 55 engages with the ratchet and partially rotates the cage, to an extreme position, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, against the action of a return spring 52, one end of which is attached to the cage and the other end of which is anchored to the box.

Upon re-engagement of the engine clutch, the

vcage is free to return under the action of its spring 52, but thedistauce through which it can move is determined by a spring pawl 53 which is freely mounted on the shaft and which can engage with either of two stepped teeth 56, 55 on the ratchet 5|.

The pre-selecting operation determines with which of the teeth 54 or 55 the pawl shall engage and so determines the position of the rollers :i4 on their cam surfaces d5, that is, it determines whcther the annular wheel EQ shall be freed or arrested. The position of the pawl 53 is controlled in a manner similar to that of the pawl 3i already described.

The pawl 53 has two spring arms in the form of blade springs 56 and 5i' secured to it, which embrace and bear on a cam 58 secured to the se- The cam has two rises 53, 59 and two depressionsv 5i?, 36. When the cam is Cil turned so that the'ends of both Vblade springs bear on the plain periphery of the cam, the pawl 53 will move into position to engage with the tooth 54 to hold the cage with the rollers 44 in a neutral or non-clutching position upon operation of the rock shaft 35.

However, if the cam is rotated so that 'the blade spring 55 is iiexed by either Vrise 59 during the pre-selecting operation, the movement of the cage, upon movement of the rock shaft 36, will permit the energized pawl 53 to rockinto the path of the tooth 55 on the cage, so that the cage, when its spring 52 attempts to move it, will be arrested. In this position of the cage, the rollers 44 are at the opposite end of their respective cam surfaces 45 and are in position to bind between the ring 43 and flange 42 to arrest the annular wheel I5 against rotation. The rises 59, 59 on the cam 58 are operative when the iirst and third speeds are to be pre-selected.

If either the first forward speed or reverse drive is required, the annular reaction Wheel II is arrested. The arresting mechanism for this wheel is similar to that used for the Wheel I0, except that, as the annular wheel II is used for reverse driving, it must be lcapable of being arrested against rotation in either direction. The Wheel Iil is provided with uni-directional clutching or arresting elements, while the wheel II is provided with loi-directional elements.

The annular reaction Wheel I I has its rim eX- tended to form a ange 62 which overhangs a ramp member or ring 63 secured rigidly to th box I.

A roller cage 54 is provided and, as is shown more clearly in Figure 5, each slot in the cage contains two rollers 65 and 66 which areV kept up to their respective ends of theslots, and against ramps'in the form of flats or cam surfaces 61 on the ring 63, by means of V springs 68 mounted inthe ring.

When the cage is in the position shown in Figure 5, both sets of rollers 65 and 66 are in a neutral position, i. e., they are out of binding Contact with the flange 62, so that annular wheel Ii may rotate idly in Veither direction. lIf the cage 54 is moved slightly in an anti-clockwise direction, and held in this position, the springs S8 force the rollers 65 towards the ends of the cam surfaces 51, so that attempted rotation of the annular Wheel I I in an anti-clockwise direction causes the rollers 65 to bind between the surfaces 61 and ange 62. This causes the arrest of the annular wheel against anti-clockwise rotation.

In a similar manner, by turning lthe cage slightly in a clockwise direction andhclding it against rotation, the rollers 55 are caused to arrest the annular wheel I I against clockwise rotation.

The cage 65 is urged in an anti-clockwise direction by a spring 69, and is held in anydesired position by means of al spring pawl 1which'is freely mounted on the rock shaft 36 and which can engage with either of three teeth 1I, 12 or 13 on a ratchet 18 secured to the side of the cage.

A nger 14, secured to the shaft 36, meshes with a recess in the ratchet 18 sothat'when the engine clutch is released and the shaft 36 is rocked as hereinbefore described, the nger'engages with the lug to rotate partially the cage in a clockwise direction to an extreme position. Upon the re-engagement of the engineclutch and the consequential rocking .back of the shaft 35, the cage is also urged, by its spring 69, to

return, the distance of return being determined by thepawl 10 engaging'with one of the teeth 1I, 12 or 13.'v v l f -Th'e pre-selecting 'operation determines the K `Assumingthat the 'second speed is pre-see lected, the cam 11 is moved so that the blade spring 15 is flexed, and the pawl 1B thereby `energized, so that the pawl rocks into the path of the tooth 1I upon therotation of the cage by the finger 14. Upon rthe attempted return of the cage, under the action of the spring 69, the Atooth -1I engages'with the pawl 19 and arrests the cage with the rollers 65V in clutching posi- Vtion to arrest the annular wheel I I against clockwise rotation.4

If lthe pre-selecting operati-on sets the cam 11 sothat neither springf15V nor 16 is exed, theV position of the pawl 10, uponthe operation of the engine clutch, is'such thatfthe pawl 1B engages With the tooth 12 to arrest the cage with all the rollers 65 and 66 in neutral positions to permit of the idle rotation of the annular Wheel I I.

Assuming that reverse driving is desired, then the pre-selecting operation adjusts the cam 11 to flex the blade spring 16 of the pawl 10, so that upon operation of the engine clutch, the pawl is caused toeng'age with the tooth 13 and thereby hold the cage with the rollers 66 in clutching position. The annular reaction wheel II is thus held against anti-clockwise f rotation. Under these conditions, the planet pinions 9 and intermediate pinons I2 travel round the stationary the form annular reaction wheel II, causing the carrier 6 to revolve in a direction opposite to that of the input shaft 2. I' Y Itwill` be understood that the cams 58 and `11 are so angularly disposed on their shaft 35, that only one annular wheel I0 or I yI can be arrested for any forward speed Yor for the reverse speed setting of the driversV pre-'selecting handle, while if the handle is set for direct drive, neither wheel is arrested. The cam 4U is so set in angular rela- 'tion' to the cams 58 and 11 that the collar I8 is correctly` positioned to give the desired speed.v

A friction clutch 19, 80 is arranged between the carrier 6 and the input shaft I in a manner simi- 4lar to that described in the before-mentioned specification. Upon release of the engine clutch, the clutchl 1.9, 80 is automatically engaged, by means of a fork |21 connected to the main 'clutch .fork |23Y (Figurer15). While a gear change is being'eiected, there'is no torque transmittedfrom the engine and the frictionclutch 19, 80 causes the whole of the gear to rotate en bloc. The Aclutch 19, 80is disengagedupon ire-engagement of the engine clutch.

` Inv'liigures 9 to 14, a modied form of arresting mechanism according to the invention is illustrated. j

In this form, the layshaft'carrier V6 as well as each annular reaction Wheel is'adapted to be arrested in order that a wide range of forward Yand reverse speeds may be obtained, as is explained in the before-mentioned specification.

kThe method of arresting each reaction member, Whether an annular Wheel or the carrier, is similar and so it will be described in detail with reference to the annular wheel I I.

The rim of the Wheel II'A is surrounded by a :ramp 4member or, ring 8I which is rigidly secured f CII to the actual gear box or housing. A cage 82 is situated between the ring and the wheel and has a number of slots, Veach of which contains two rollers 83 and 84, the rollers being kept apart and up to the ends of their slots by springs 85. Y

The inner surface of lthe ring and the periphery of the annular wheel form races for the rollers 83 and 84 whichconstitute clutching or arresting elements by means of which the annular wheel may be arrested against rotation. The ring is provided with a ramp or cam surface 86 for each pair of rollers, and so long as the cage 82 is maintained in the central positonwhich it occupies in Figure 9 the rollers are out of clutching engagement with the ring.Y K

The cage 82 is provided with a number of gear teeth 81 for engagement with a toothed sector 88, which extends through a slot 89 in the` ring 8| and is mounted on a rock shaft 98. The shaft 98 is connected to the engine clutch operating mechanism Aand is rocked at each operation of the engine clutch. A spring 9| secured to the sector 88 and anchored to the gear box urges the cage in an anti-clockwise direction.

When the engine clutch is disengaged, the shaft 98 is partially rotated and a key 92 on the shaft, working ina wide keyway 93 in thesector, turns the sector to move the cage-82 clockwise to its fullest extent.

Upon the re-engagement of the engine clutch, the cage is returned under the action of the spring 9| until arrested by a spring pawly 94 engaging with one or other of three teeth 95, 96 or 91 on the sector. 1

The pawl 94 Yis freely mounted on an axle 98 and its angular'I position toengage withone or other of the teeth is determined by a pre-selection operation in a manner similar to that described for setting the pawls in the previously described embodiment of the invention. Operation of the drivers pre-selecting handle rotates a selecting shaft on which a cam 99 is secured. The cam has two rises |88, |8| and two depressions |82, |83, and is embraced by'two resilient arms such as blade springs |84, |85 fixed to the pawl. l

If itis desired to change into the forward speed which is'obtainable by arresting the annular reaction wheel that speed is pre-selected by turning the cam- 99, so that its rise |8| engages with and rlexes the blade spring |85. Uponpartial rotation of the sector,l the energized pawl is free to rock in a clockwise` direction and the end of the blade spring |84-enters`the recess |83 in the cam. The pawl is thus moved intoY the path of the tooth 95,.and when the engine clutch is re-engaged', the return of the cage is limited by the engagement of the tooth 95 with the pawl Sli. The rollers 83 are thus maintained'in a position to bind between the cam surfaces 86 and the periphery of the annular wheel andso arrest the annular wheel against clockwise rotation.

Had a reverse speed beenV desired, the cam 99 would. have been turned to cause its rise |88 to flex'the blade spring |784, so that the pawl would eventually rock into the path of the tooth 97, therend of the spring |85 entering the depression |82`. In this position of the pawl, the cage would move to its fullest extent and cause vthe rollers 84 to arrest the annular wheelagainst anti-clockwise rotation. r l

If a speed is pre-selected in which the reaction wheel is to rotate idly, both blade springs |84 and |85 bear on the plain periphery of thecarn kafirma?? Ywith teeth on roller cages containing arresting elements forV the two annular wheels and I8, and the layshaft carrier 6.

The key and slot driving connection 92, 93 is lprovided for each sector 88, ||8 and and permits a certain degree of lost motion between the shaft and the sectors, so that the shaft is free to return with the re-engagement of the engine clutch, irrespective of whether one of the sectors has been arrested by its pawl. I

-It willbe appreciated that the clutching or arresting elements may be in the form of balls instead of rollers.

I claim:

l. In an epicyclic change speed gear of the type having rotary reaction members adapted to be arrested and freed to effect speed changes, means for arresting and freeing said reaction members including stationary ramp members, rollers for co-operating with said ramp members and said reaction members, cages for said rollers, means operable by the driver for partially rotating said cages in one direction, springs for rotating said cages in the opposite direction when released by driver operated means, and means for selectively intercepting said cages when so released.

2. In combination an epicyclic change speed gear having rotary reaction members adapted to be arrested and freed to eect speed changes, a main driving clutch, means operable by the driver for operating said clutch, means for arresting and freeing said rotary reaction members comprising stationary ramp members, rollers for co-operation with said ramp members and said rotary reaction members, cages for said rollers, springs for partially rotating said carriers in one direction, means connected to said main clutch operating means for partially rotating said cages in the opposite direction against the action of said springs When the main clutch is disengaged, and means for selectively intercepting said cages when the main clutch is re- L,

engaged, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbeore set forth. l

3. In combination an epicyclic change speed gear having rotary reaction members adapted to be arrested and freed to effect speed changes, a main driving clutch, means operable by the driver for operating said clutch, means for arresting and freeing said rotary reaction members comprising stationary ramp members, rollers for co-operation with said ramp members and said rotary reaction members, cages for said rollers, springs for partially rotating said carriers in one direction, means connected to said main clutch operating means for partially rotating said cages in the opposite direction against the action of said springs when the main clutch is disengaged, and means for selectively intercepting said cages `when the main clutch is re-engaged, comprising stepped ratchets movable with said roller cages, pawls for engaging with said ratchets, and means operable by the driver for selectively setting said pawls relatively to said ratchets, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. In combination an epicyclic change speed gearhaving rotary reaction members adapted to be arrested and freed to effect speed changes, a main driving clutch, means operable by the driver for operating said clutch, means for arresting and freeing said rotary reaction members comprising stationary ramp members, rollers for cooperation with said ramp members and said rotary reaction members, cages for said rollers, springs for partially rotating said carriers in one direction, means connected to said main clutch operating means for partially rotating said cages in the opposite ldirection against the action of said springs When the main clutch is disengaged, and means for selectively intercepting said cages when the main clutch is re-engaged, comprising stepped ratchets movable With said roller cages, pawls for engaging With said ratchets, said pawls having resilient arms, selecting cams emb-raced by said arms, and a selecting shaft operable by the driver for rotating said cams into selected positions to tension said resilient arms preparatory to the movement of the roller cages and their ratchets during the disengagement of the driving clutch and ready for selective engagement With their respective ratchets when said clutch is reengaged.

5. An epicyclic change speed mechanism as speciiied in claim 4, having the stepped ratchets directly connected to the roller cages, ngers for engaging with said ratchets, and means operatively co-nnected to the driving clutch operating mechanism for oscillating said iingers, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

6. An epicyclic change speed gear comprising an input sunwheel operatively connected to a main driving clutch, an output sunwheel, layshaft pinions in mesh with said input and output sunwheels, annular reaction Wheels in geared connection with said layshaft pinions, a rotary carrier for said layshaft, an output member and a dog-clutch member for selectively connecting the output member to the output sunwheel and to the layshaft carrier individually or to both simultaneously, means for arresting said annular reaction wheels including stationary ramp members, rollers for co-operating with said ramp members and said reaction wheels, cages for said rollers, means operatively connected to the operating mechanism of the main driving clutch for moving said roller cages and said dog clutch member in one direction to an extreme position, when said main driving clutch is disengaged, return springs for vsaid roller cages and said dog clutch member, and means for selectively intercepting said roller cages and said dog clutch member when released on the re-engagement of said main driving clutch, comprising stepped ratchets movable by said roller c-ages and said dog clutch member,

intercepting pawls for engagement with saidratchets, a selecting shaft, cams on said shaft adapted to be moved into selected positions to selectively set said pawls relatively to their respective ratchets.

ALEC CHARLES CLAYTON. 

